Recommendations for schools for ASD/PDA child

[Anonymous]

My daughter has a similar profile, although she’s in prek-4. We’ve loved Maddux for her. They think outside the box and individualize their approaches to each student. After a terrible experience at a Montessori school last year, we moved from DC to Maryland so she could attend Maddux. I have no regrets. It’s been wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has a similar profile, although she’s in prek-4. We’ve loved Maddux for her. They think outside the box and individualize their approaches to each student. After a terrible experience at a Montessori school last year, we moved from DC to Maryland so she could attend Maddux. I have no regrets. It’s been wonderful.

Could I ask why Montessori was a bad fit for PDA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has a similar profile, although she’s in prek-4. We’ve loved Maddux for her. They think outside the box and individualize their approaches to each student. After a terrible experience at a Montessori school last year, we moved from DC to Maryland so she could attend Maddux. I have no regrets. It’s been wonderful.

Could I ask why Montessori was a bad fit for PDA?

NP here. We steered clear of Montessori preschool for our ASD/ADHD/PDA kid because of how much agency kids are given. Without a very skilled Montessori teacher, we thought our kid would have stuck to their preferred activities and never come out of their comfort zone. We had success with a more structured, play-based preschool with high-skilled, high-warmth teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has a similar profile, although she’s in prek-4. We’ve loved Maddux for her. They think outside the box and individualize their approaches to each student. After a terrible experience at a Montessori school last year, we moved from DC to Maryland so she could attend Maddux. I have no regrets. It’s been wonderful.

Could I ask why Montessori was a bad fit for PDA?

NP here. We steered clear of Montessori preschool for our ASD/ADHD/PDA kid because of how much agency kids are given. Without a very skilled Montessori teacher, we thought our kid would have stuck to their preferred activities and never come out of their comfort zone. We had success with a more structured, play-based preschool with high-skilled, high-warmth teachers.

Thanks for responding. We’re thinking of Montessori K-8 and then supplementing math and reading outside of school. I’m worried that traditional private will be too rigid.

[Anonymous]

Auburn

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Ivymount? They should be able to fit your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Lourie Center, Auburn, Diener.

Lourie Center is not the best place for ASD kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Lourie Center, Auburn, Diener.

Lourie Center is not the best place for ASD kids.

Certain kids with ASD do quite well at Lourie - it depends on specific needs. Its worth looking into

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is similar and has done well at Diener.

I was going to suggest Diener. My dd is too delayed in expressive language for Diener, but I loved everything about it when touring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PDA doesn't typically present with outward behaviors. It's all internalized through masking and hence the school refusal and letdown after school.

Actually, PDA does typically present with significant externalizing behaviors. Maybe some kids can hold it together at school, but PDA typically describes students who react strongly to demands.

As the parent of two PDA'ers, it really depends on the kid - some are more internalized, some are more externalized. My older PDA (more internalized) appeared fine at school but would explode at home. We managed at a normal school by significantly demands at home, meaning she could better handle the demands at school. But part of that was that we eliminated all homework, which the school reluctantly worked with us to do.

My younger (and less severe) PDA'er LOVES school and the social components. Her friends help her regulate so school is easier. But when she is at her limit, she is done and she shows it at school.

[Anonymous]

Any schools other than Diener and Maddox?

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? I'd check out Harbour School also - they have two locations, Annapolis and Owings Mills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any schools other than Diener and Maddox?

Ivymount

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any schools other than Diener and Maddox?

Auburn School in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Sadly there aren’t many options for that profile.
I can only think of Auburn or ivymount.